your questions can easily be charted on a spread sheet. issues you do not address:
1. are there any XXX hotels in the loctions you plan to use. if most of europe, you are pretty much stuck with best western,
2. in spite of status, etc, what do you really get from the loyalty program. i stayed in a number of high end hotels as a platinum. half time i got a lot. half time, i got squat.
3. does the premium you pay(if on your own nickel) really provide the benefit? we now stay in 4* small boutique hotels. in europe, the rooms are nicer. the service is far superior and much more personalized. and one is not constrained by location.